WHY INSPIRING?

At Inspiring Test Preparation, we demystify testing and “unlock the box” for superlative results. Our experts will help you achieve outstanding results by teaching you strategies and content. During her 32 years of working and inspiring students, Kate Dalby has refined her methods to maximize scores and efficiency in the test preparation process.

If you’d like to maximize your potential on the SAT, ACT, PSAT, SSAT, HSPT, ISEE, or TJ admissions test, Inspiring Test Preparation can help! We offer group classes, private tutoring, as well as online tutoring via screen sharing programs.

INSPIRING TEST PREPARATION

INSPIRING TEST PREPARATION

SAT – ACT – PSAT – SSAT – HSPT – TJ ADMISSONS – ISEE

CALL US AT 703.203.5796

Thanks Kate ~ without your help Jack wouldn’t have raised his Science score to a perfect 36 from a 28!! And increased his Reading and English scores. He knew when he left the test he had gotten it least one wrong on Math and realized the correct answer when he thought about it in the car…

You can ABSOLUTELY brag about Jack’s results and YOUR help!! We went straight back to Dalby without thinking twice when it came time for ACT test prep! We are so grateful to you and your teaching methods and strategies!!

Jack will take the test again. I guess April 18th? He really wants to try and get a perfect score on the Math. He is currently taking Honors Calculus and doing very well.

What are your thoughts and advice on test prep prior to April 18th?

Thanks again!!

Annemarie Heaps

St Alban’s 2016

Kate’s notes: Jack prepared for the TJ test with me back in 8th grade, and took the one-day PSAT workshop last fall, raising his scores from 183 to 194.

He was invited in to try the ACT (we determined it was a better fit for him based on a phone interview) and he scored a composite of 31 (30.5). After three hours of tutoring and some practice sessions he raised his composite score to 34 (34.25). He went from 28 to 36 on his Science which was his primary focus in practice.

Annemarie Heaps

Dear Mrs. Dalby–

Our son leaves for the college of his choice in six months. Your SAT-prep and general guidance on college admissions helped him make it to the Ivy League.

When I first called you in the spring of Coy’s sophomore year, we weren’t sure how SAT-prep with you might work out. You had come highly recommended, but we live a few hours’ drive away from the D.C. area. I was relieved that you agreed to take Coy as online student, even though you had only just started with that delivery method.

At your instruction, Coy focused on his math and reading scores. That “two-part” score is what the universities he wanted to attend would consider most for athletes like him. His first set of SAT scores in the fall of his junior year [after he had met online twice in the spring and had been prepping for six months] was 740 reading, 670 math, 660 writing, or 2070 total and 1420 for the two-part. His final set in December of his junior year [after a third online session] was 760 reading, 730 math, and 660 writing, or 2150 total and 1490 for the two-part. On the SAT II he scored 780 on history and 700 on Math 1. We were thrilled with the improvement from the PSAT[205 in 11th grade] and with the advances he made on the SAT. And his two-part was stellar among athletes applying to Harvard, Princeton, and Cornell Universities – his top choices.

After each session with you, Coy came away with a deeper understanding not only of particular mathematics problems, for example, but of test strategy – what to focus on and how. And he used your advice as guidance in the countless hours he spent studying SAT problems on his own. I also personally appreciated your advice. You talked me through the process so I had a deeper understanding of what top universities would look for in terms of grades and test scores from an athletic recruit.

With Coy’s final 1490 two-part and his 4.7 GPA from a course load full of AP classes, he had no problem qualifying for admission at the Ivy League universities he wanted to attend. Few other high-school competitors are ranked in the Top 10 nationally in his sport and have such high scores. The combination meant the coaches at Ivy League universities knew they could present the admissions office with Coy’s portfolio and he would likely gain approval. As a result, both Harvard and Princeton universities gave him a chance at early admission. Coy chose Princeton and by October of his senior year he had a letter in hand, telling him that early admission was likely. By December 2013 the dean of admissions formally called to offer him a spot and he accepted.

The early acceptance meant Coy could focus on his courses and his sport for the final season of his high-school career without having to worry about college applications. As a result of his success, we have referred several of our friends to you for online tutoring. And they have referred you to their friends. Thank you for helping us understand the test and what Coy needed to do to make it to Princeton.

Robin Wilson

Blacksburg, VA

Robin Wilson

I got a 35!!!!! Could not have done it without you!!!! Thanks so much! 32 English, 35 Math, 36 Reading, 35 Science.

Steve

So far, he’s been accepted to the Engineering school at ILLINOIS, as well as RIT and the Colorado School of Mines. (Raised score from 31 to 35 composite.)

NR

He got into:
UVA, Boston College,Northeastern, Colgate, Colby [and] Davidson (was nominated for the Belk Scholarship,…he is one of two alternates).

Parent of J

Hello Kate,

We just wanted you all to be the first to know that our son, JC, is a TJ semifinalist!! He received his letter today!
Thank you so much for your tutoring, preparation and guidance through this process! Now he’s off to begin the second phase of the TJ Admissions process (i.e seeking teacher recommendations, completing student information sheet, etc.) Any helpful tips regarding this second phase is most welcome:)
Thank you again for teaching and preparing him!

Sincerely,
FC

FC

S. made it to the next phase of TJ admissions and would like to say thanks for all your help.

CM

CM

Thanks so much for helping me get that 33.

JS

Dear Ms. Kate,
Just want to let you know that I got semi-finalist letter today. I made it!!
Thank you so much for everything you did to help me. i will let you know how I make out.
Thanks Again,
MF

MF

Dear Kate,

I just got a letter from TJ that I passed the first cut for my TJ test! Thank you so much for all of your help! I will let you know the results of the second stage of screening, which I know is very hard.

Sincerely,
SC

SC

Dear Kate,

I just got a letter from TJ that I passed the first cut for my TJ test! Thank you so much for all of your help! I will let you know the results of the second stage of screening, which I know is very hard.

Sincerely,
SC

CT

Yay! Im a semifinalist!!!now i just have to fill out another application :(thanks for all your help!

NB

NB

Hey Ms. Kate,

I just wanted to let you know that I made the first cut for the TJ Admission! Thank you all so very much for your help and support, because without it, I would have most definitely been lost while taking the test.